Battery electric school bus in Massachusetts.
Photo by Brian Foulds /Concord-Carlisle Regional School District
Oregon makes electrifying progress on EV’s
Electric cars and trucks are showing up in communities all across Oregon, including rural parts of the state. And as of March, add a public school bus in Bend to the list.
The Oregon Department of Energy recently announced the arrival in Bend of the first electric school bus east of the Cascades. Students in Bend-LaPine Schools will be able to enjoy a new kind of ride to school, one that helps the environment.
And several other school districts have gone electric or are ordering new electric buses, Energy Department officials said.
This is the latest evidence that electric cars and other types of electric vehicles (EV’s) are beginning to help Oregon break its dependence on fossil fuels.
EVs are saving Oregonians money on fuel and maintenance as well as helping to seriously reduce the impacts of climate change and toxic air pollution that affect our planet and our families.
The state’s Department of Environmental Quality’s Electric Vehicle Rebate Program has helped make these vehicles more affordable to a wide range of people across the state. The program’s been so successful, however, that it will temporarily run out of funds at the end of April.
People who buy or lease EV’s before May 1 still qualify for this year’s rebate. After that, you can sign up on a waiting list for when DEQ rebates are again available, likely in early 2024. But vehicles purchased on or after May 1 this year won’t qualify.
The Oregon Chapter is working hard to push for more programs like these. With your help, we can make even more progress.
– David Collier
David Collier is a volunteer member with the Oregon Chapter's Conservation Committee. If you are interested in learning more, or volunteering with the team, check out the webpage for more details!